Importing US -> Canada & JA prices
Hey guys. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with importing a dog to Canada. Is the process handled by Air Canada? Is it better to buy a roundtrip ticket for yourself and fly back with the pup vs having it shipped on its own? I also can't seem to find information about the costs associated with it. The flight would be Texas (preferable because it is closer) or southern California to Toronto because that is where the JACA breeders are located.
How much should I expect to pay for a JA (only looking for pet/companion), I imagine somewhere around 2,000 USD? The currency exchange will also add to the costs for me >:D<
Alternatively I am open to importing from Japan, I have Japanese step family that could help me with the language barrier. I have so far just assumed that it would be more expensive for the dog and much more expensive for the travel. I feel like Japan to Toronto is also a veeryy long way for a puppy. For example using the following cities as a reference, Tokyo is 5x farther than LA which is 2x farther than Dallas.
How much should I expect to pay for a JA (only looking for pet/companion), I imagine somewhere around 2,000 USD? The currency exchange will also add to the costs for me >:D<
Alternatively I am open to importing from Japan, I have Japanese step family that could help me with the language barrier. I have so far just assumed that it would be more expensive for the dog and much more expensive for the travel. I feel like Japan to Toronto is also a veeryy long way for a puppy. For example using the following cities as a reference, Tokyo is 5x farther than LA which is 2x farther than Dallas.
Comments
$1,500 to $2,500 USD is very typical. Prices outside this range are not necessarily a sign of something being "wrong", but you should definitely inquire about the reasons. Sometimes a litter is very expensive, ie. high stud fee, bitch needed a C-section, etc. Very low prices should also cause a raised eyebrow, as this can be a hallmark of a BYB with little invested in the dogs trying to make a quick sale.
Price for a pup from Japan - not including shipping - starts at around $4,000 USD with microchip, vet check, crate, transport to airport, etc. Shipping by weight will be around $1,500 depending on age, sex, airline, etc. It is generally less expensive if you can get cheap airfare in advance and add the dog as "excess baggage" for a flat fee. You also don't have to deal with US customs that way. (Not sure about Canadian customs.)
Wow having the puppy shipped to a US city is a great idea! I believe Buffalo has the nearest US airport and that is a comfy 2 hours away. Probably also cuts down on a connecting flight for the poor guy. Also gives me the chance to give him some exercise before starting the car ride back, if only to let him stretch his legs depending on how okay with it he is.
Okay, sorry Japan. Too rich for my blood. Anyway I also recall you telling me about the breeding practices in Japan and it would definitely be too much trouble for me.
The most active breeders online are all west coast. And I know they've shipped pups to New York and Virginia before (I have personally sent one as far as Syracuse).
Just from a short google search it seems searching for shipping options within the states brings up a lot of more results. I think I will ask around for some quotes and see what the price differences are between TX and CA.
I think around $600 is normal but don't quote me -- I don't take money for shipping, I have the owner arrange it so they know I'm not inflating the cost, and I don't get left holding the bill if the buyer's check bounces. The latter happened to another breeder I know.
That said, USDA regulations enacted in 2013 make shipping difficult for some breeders, myself included. Anyone who wishes to remain in compliance and owns 5 intact females across all species (dogs, cats, hamsters, etc) has to do ALL sales "face to face" in order to be classified as a pet shop inspected by the public. Also anyone who sells even one animal that was not born on their property (an import, a rescue, a puppy born at a vet, a co-bred litter, etc). If the breeder loses the classification as a pet shop inspected by the public, they must comply with and be inspected by the USDA. That may sound like a good thing but it's not. USDA regulations don't allow animals in the residence or on porous materials (blankets, carpet) - they must be kept in strictly regulated cages and runs, typicall on concrete, and raised like commercial livestock.
A "face to face" sale means the seller, the buyer, and the animal being sold are all physically present in the same location. It doesn't have to be when ownership of the dog and money changes hands, i.e. the buyer could visit when the puppies are six weeks old but not have the pup shipped until ten weeks and that's okay. Previous visits, meeting the parents, buying other animals from the breeder in the past DO NOT count - the exact animal being sold must be present.
However, the USDA will allow a proxy to act as the buyer. The person who takes possession of the animal, so long as they're not related to the seller or her kennel and not a paid courier / animal transporter, is the buyer as far as USDA is concerned. If the "buyer" then gives the animal away to someone else, USDA doesn't care and it can be shipped.
I know Hyozan is getting ready to breed and I think Minami is due or just had a litter. I'm taking a complete break for at least another year. Kobun is looking to breed at one point they are in St. Louis.
I saw in your mentioned that some breeders only have one female. All of our breeders are really kinda small scale operations. PoeticDragon who's kennel is on the larger size is still considered a small kennel. We do a lot of co-oping and working with each other. For example I have two females which one is retired. I don't see myself having more than that.
Maybe one of you could nudge Hyozan over to their email haha XD
Could you tell me a little more about Kobun? Are they not JACA members? St. Louis is certainly the closest of the bunch by a fair bit.
http://www.japaneseakitas.org/akitas.asp Is this their website?
@OtakuBenny If you are going to fly the puppy through cargo, make sure the crate size is small enough to go through the airplane's cargo gate. Air Canada must had a small airplane for the LAX / Calgary route because I remember the guy at LAX airport told us that Kizuna's crate barely made through the gate. I always assumed they had huge gates for cargo, never thought it could be a problem.
Regardless which kennel you get your JA pup from, if you can afford it (time and money), I would highly recommend flying in to pick up your pup. That way you get to meet your breeder in person and see your pup's siblings. That's what we did, felt much better having the pup fly in cabin with us.
I would stick with US breeders if I were you. Nothing absolutely wrong with importing from Japan or Europe, but if anything goes wrong good luck getting help or support from an overseas breeder. In the end, too risky.
It's funny what I can remember and what I cannot. Cost of shipping Kizuna to you -got it. Remembering other things not so much.
Hyozan never did reply to me, and it seems their website has been down since my OP, so I guess they may be going through some technical issues.